Topic > Design Plan for Talkie: An Interactive Toy for Kids

The purpose of this article is to describe a toy I designed for preschoolers. In this article I will also discuss how my toy would promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of preschoolers. Play is very important for the development of preschool children because information processing is constant and continuous in different areas of rationalization. The toy I designed will engage parents and peers to encourage the development of language skills through operant conditioning and imitation (Berk, 2010, p. 181). The name of the toy I designed is “Talkie: The Interactive Phone That Does More Than Just Talk”. This toy is designed for preschool children aged 2 to 5 years old. “Talkie” is a battery operated toy consisting of a red, square plastic base, approximately 18"x18" in diameter, with buttons that can be pressed. These buttons are made up of five colored shapes. These shapes include: a yellow triangle, a blue circle, a green square, a orange star and a purple octagon. When you press these buttons, the toy describes the shape and color of the pressed button. The second part of the toy consists of two cell phones. These phones are red with a yellow antenna, and the buttons are of soft rubber with black writing indicating the numbers from 0 to 9 and the "call" button which has a yellow smiley on it. The call button, located in the center of the phone, can be used to locate the other phone in use. When you press the call button, you will hear a ring similar to that of a real telephone. The other buttons consisting of the numbers 0-9 are arranged numerically around the call button. When these numbers are pressed, the phone signals children through the phone that they model good listening behavior when their child speaks. For example, when the child speaks, the parent should use affirmative expressions such as “yes, that's right” or “good job.” Another way parents can improve their children's language development by using the “Talkie” is to ask them questions that require them to make and express choices. Ultimately, play is essential because it encourages cognitive, emotional, physical and social development. Play opens the door to opportunities for parents to fully immerse themselves with their children and allows children to explore their creativity and mature their imaginations. By engaging in play, children have the opportunity to overcome their fears by imitating adult roles, it also helps build self-confidence and teaches them to be involved in the world around them.